Theater Collection, 1870-1982

12 boxes (7 linear ft.)

Collection number: MS 450

Abstract:

Terms of Access and Use:

The collection is open to research according to the regulations of the Sophia Smith Collection with the following exceptions:

Access to audiovisual materials may first require production of research copies.

This collection has not been fully processed; therefore it may be difficult to use.

Material in this collection may be protected by copyright and it is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy all copyright holders. Permission to publish reproductions or quotations beyond "fair use" must also be obtained from the Sophia Smith Collection as owners of the physical property.

Sophia Smith Collection
Smith College
Northampton, MA

Scope and Contents of the Collection

Tom Thumb, Mrs. Tom Thumb, and
Tom Thumb's brother, undated

The collection documents the work of women in the performing arts, especially American actresses, women playwrights, and dancers. There are biographical files on individuals such as Maude Adams, Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, Doris Day, Marlene Dietrich, Isadora Duncan, Cloris Leachman, Ida Lupino, Tatum O'Neal, Mary Pickford, Lillian Russell, Marlo Thomas, and Cicely Tyson, among others. Articles and dissertations include topics related to women in theater and dance, including biographical writings on Hallie Flanagan, Lillian Helman, Katherine Cornell, Eva LeGallienne, Olive Logan, Alla Nazimova, Cornelia Otis Skinner, and Ruth St. Denis. Also included are several contemporary plays by women, and printed material on women filmmakers and feminist theater.

Information on Use

Terms of Access and Use

Restrictions on access:

The collection is open to research according to the regulations of the Sophia Smith Collection with the following exceptions:

Access to audiovisual materials may first require production of research copies.

This collection has not been fully processed; therefore it may be difficult to use.

Preferred Citation

Please use the following format when citing materials from this collection:

Theater Collection, Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College, Northampton, Mass.

History of the Collection

Materials in this subject collection were either purchased or given to the Sophia Smith Collection by various donors.

Accruals:

Periodic additions are expected.

Additional Information

Contact Information

Sophia Smith Collection

Smith College
Northampton, MA 01063

Phone: (413) 585-2970
Fax: (413) 585-2886

Email Reference Form: http://www.smith.edu/libraries/libs/ssc/emailform.html
URL: http://www.smith.edu/libraries/libs/ssc/

Language

English

Contents List

General and miscellaneous

Bibliography and note cards	circa 1975	Box 1: folder 1

American Women Playwrights and correspondence	1979	Box 1: folder 2

Chinoy: flyer, activities list, pamphlets, and newsletter	1975-82	Box 1: folder 3

Correspondence and mailing	1975-79	Box 1: folder 4

Dance: clippings and memo	1854-1982	Box 1: folder 5

Helen Duberstein: clippings	1972-76	Box 1: folder 6

Actors & Actresses: photographs	1888-90	Box 1: folder 7

Toulouse-Lautrec: postcards	n.d.	Box 1: folder 8

Film

Catalogs

Serious Business Company,	1976	Box 2

Women and their Sexuality in the New Film, by Joan Mellen	1973	Box 2

Women's Films in Print, by Bonnie Dawson	circa 1975	Box 2

Workprint	1976	Box 2: folder 9

Flyers, pamphlets, and correspondence	1972-81	Box 2: folder 10

Flyers, newsletters, clippings, correspondence, and pamphlets	1962-73	Box 2: folder 11

Handbook, programs, and pamphlets	1972-75	Box 2: folder 12

Pamphlets, flyers, and articles	1973-81	Box 2: folder 13

Stage

Scrapbook: clippings and photographs	1929-31	Box 3

Clippings	1969-79	Box 3: folder 14

General Articles	1855-1929	Box 3: folder 15

Newsletter and address labels	1975-81	Box 3: folder 16

Reviews, pamphlet, clippings, and scripts	1971-80	Box 3: folder 17

Guerilla Theatre: pamphlets	n.d.	Box 3: folder 18

I Woman: stories, poster, scripts, and poems	1961-70	Box 3: folder 19

Feminist Theater

Pamphlets, play, and correspondence	1975-85	Box 3: folder 20

General: pamphlets, poster, articles, and programs	1972-75	Box 3: folder 21

Performers

Adams, Maude

Photographs, clippings, and correspondence	1900-57	Box 4: folder 22

Script	n.d.	Box 4: folder 23

Anderson, Mary: photographs, clippings, correspondence, and book	1877-95	Box 4: folder 24

Barnett, Margo: pamphlet	n.d.	Box 4: folder 25

Bernhart, Sarah: photographs, clippings, and pamphlets	1891-1922	Box 4: folder 26

Bloom, Claire: clippings	1971	Box 4: folder 27

Cayvan, Georgia: clippings	1884-86	Box 4: folder 28

Connard, Phyllis (with Lynn Fontanne)		Box 4: folder 29

Crabtree, Lotta: clippings	n.d.	Box 4: folder 30

Crawford, Joan: photograph and clipping	1978	Box 4: folder 31

Davis, Bette: photograph and clippings	1978	Box 4: folder 32

Day, Doris: clipping	n.d.	Box 4: folder 33

Dietrich, Marlene: photograph and clipping	1977	Box 4: folder 34

Draper, Ruth: clippings and correspondence	1954-57	Box 4: folder 35

Duncan, Isadora: clipping ,	1927	Box 4: folder 36

Duse, Eleonora: articles, pamphlets, photograph, and clippings	1896-1924	Box 4: folder 37

Elssler, Franzisca (Fanny), Ballet dancer: "letters and journal"	1845	Box 4: folder 38

Enters, Angna: programs and clippings	1933-46	Box 4: folder 39

Espert, Nuria: clippings	1972	Box 4: folder 40

Faucit, Helen: scrapbook	1917	Box 4: folder 40a

Fiske, Minnie Maddern: clippings, correspondence, and photograph	1924-32	Box 4: folder 41

Fonda, Jane: clippings	1970-71	Box 4: folder 42

Gerstenberg, Alice: articles	1947-48	Box 4: folder 43

Alice Gerstenberg Experimental Theatre Workshop: book	1958	Box 4: folder 44

Gordon, Ruth: clipping	1973-76	Box 4: folder 45

Gregory, Augusta Persse Lady: clippings	1860-1932	Box 4: folder 46

Hamlin, Joanne: pamphlets, programs, clippings, and photographs	1976	Box 5: folder 47

Harris, Julia Ann (Julie): clippings and magazine	1955-79	Box 5: folder 48

Havoc, June: photographs, Early Havoc, clippings [see also Books on Shelf]	1959	Box 5: folder 49

Hayes, Helen: clipping	1975	Box 5: folder 50

Hellman, Lillian: articles and clippings	1975-76	Box 5: folder 51

Holzer, Adela: clippings	1975	Box 5: folder 52

Jackson, Glenda: clippings	1971	Box 5: folder 53

Kendal, Madhe: photograph	1889	Box 5: folder 54

Kennedy, Edith Wynne: correspondence	n.d.	Box 5: folder 55

Lamb, Myrna: articles, clippings, and pamphlet	1970-71	Box 5: folder 56

Lasser, Louise: clipping	1976	Box 5: folder 57

Leachman, Cloris: clipping	1975	Box 5: folder 58

Leontovich, Eugenie: clipping	1972	Box 5: folder 59

Loden, Barbara: clipping	1970	Box 5: folder 60

Logan, Olive [see also Books on Shelf]		Box 5

Lupino, Ida: clippings	1974	Box 5: folder 61

Marlowe, Julia: photograph, article, and correspondence	1892	Box 5: folder 62

Marsh, Jean: clipping	1974	Box 5: folder 63

Mather, Margaret: photograph	n.d.	Box 5: folder 64

Meader, Clara Fisher: clipping	1897	Box 5: folder 65

Mercouri, Melina: clippings	1971	Box 5: folder 66

Morris, Clara [see Morris]		Box 5

O'Neal, Tatum: clippings	1973	Box 5: folder 67

Pavowa, Anna: clippings	1931	Box 5: folder 68

Pickford, Mary: clippings and correspondence	1937-79	Box 5: folder 69

Rachel (Elisa Felix): correspondence and clippings	1843-1913	Box 5: folder 70

Rehan, Ada: correspondence and A Daughter of Comedy	1891	Box 5: folder 71

Robinor, Hanna: photograph	n.d.	Box 5: folder 72

Russell, Anna: The Power of Being a Positive Stinker with LP record	1955	Box 5: folder 73

Russell, Lillian: clippings	1922	Box 5: folder 74

Seeback, Marie: memoir	1891	Box 5: folder 75

Siddons, Sarah: photograph, clipping, and article	1845	Box 5: folder 76

Terry, Ellen: articles and clippings [see also Garrison photographs]	1907-58	Box 5: folder 77

Thomas, Marlo: clippings	1975	Box 5: folder 78

Tyson, Cicely: clipping	1978	Box 5: folder 79

Ward, Genevieve: memoir [see also letter in N.E. Hospital Collection]	1863	Box 5: folder 80

Webster, Margaret: programs	1964	Box 5: folder 81

Audio tapes		Box 6

#1 Cheryl Crawford		Box 6

#2 Celeste Holm, Ann Burr		Box 6

#3 Megan Terry		Box 6

#4 Ann Burr, Vinie Burrows, Ethyl Barrymore Colb, Dorothy Olim		Box 6

Microfilm

#1. Humble, A.L.: Matilda Heron, American Actress,	1959	Box 6

#2. James Walton Swain, Dept. of Theatre & Speech, Tulane University: Mrs. Alexander Drake, A Biographical Study	1970	Box 6

#3. Loganbill, G. Bruce: Cornelia Otis Skinner and her Art Form of Monologue		Box 6

Articles and pamphlets

General,	1961-76	Box 6: folder 82

Matriarchs of the Regional Theatre	1975	Box 6: folder 83

A Salute to Women in Theatre, the Charles Macarthur Center for American Theatre		Box 6: folder 84

Drama for Health, by E. Macer Story		Box 6

Mattack, Cynthia S.: On the Affinity Between the Historiography of Theatre History and Women Studies	1974	Box 6: folder 85

Settlement House Theatre: Community & Theatrical Transformations, Sonja Enloe	1982	Box 6: folder 86

PhD theses

Rosamond Gilder and the Theatre, by C. Dodge	1975	Box 7

A Study of Character in Selected Plays of William Inge: Come Back…J. Epolito	1974	Box 7

The Career of Rachel Corothers in the American Drama, by I. Abrahmson	1956	Box 7

The Development of the Leading Feminine Character in Selected Librettos of American…, by E. Klein	1962	Box 7

A Descriptive Study of the Acting of Alla Nazimova, by M. McKerrow	1974	Box 7

The Role of Ruth St. Denis in the History of American Dance, 1906-1922, by C. Schlundt	1958	Box 7

Hallie Flanagan: Her Role in American Theatre, 1924-1935, by B. Mendoza,volume I	1976	Box 7

Dancing Ground: An Approach to the criticism of the Modern Dance, by N. Hitchcock II		Box 8

Lillian Hellman and Her Critics, by M. L. McPherson		Box 8

Hallie Flanagan: Her Role in American Theatre, 1924-1935, by B. Mendoza, volume II	1976	Box 8

Women In Focus in Major Plays and Productions of Rachel Corothers, by Z. Kaplan	1979	Box 9

Leontovich/Chinoy Interview: IBM belts	1968	Box 10

Plays, contemporary

Asher, Sandra Fenichel		Box 11

Afterthoughts in Eden	1974	Box 11

How I Nearly Changed the World, but Didn't (Not Yet, Anyway)		Box 11

Focus On Me, by Bobbi Ausubel	1974	Box 11

Boesing, Martha		Box 11

The Gelding	1974	Box 11

Pimp	1977	Box 11

Penelope, by Sophy Burnham	1976	Box 11

Can You Hear Their Voices?, Vassar Experimental Theatre.		Box 11

Aunt Ealdygyth is Coming Today! Stand Back!, by Anita Gustafson	1975	Box 11

Both Ancient and Modern, by J. Gates	n.d.	Box 12

Susan LaTempa		Box 12

A Play of One's Own…The Story of Virginia Woolf	1974	Box 12

Wanda Winner	1975	Box 12

Minnie's Last Jig, by L. Morris	1976	Box 12

Love from the Madhouse: A One-Act Play, by E. Nass	1972	Box 12

Stars in a Person's Backyard, by Jay Presson		Box 12

Approaching Simone, by M. Terry	1973	Box 12

Impression of Loving, by Louise Thompson		Box 12

Donna Wilshire		Box 12

A Revolution is a Circle	1976	Box 12

Daughters of Liberty	1976	Box 12

OVERSIZE MATERIALS

Portraits reproduced from the Sophia Smith Collection: Great Ladies of the Theatre	n.d.	Flat file

Miscellaneous photographs of actors, playbills, and circus bills	1851, 1858, n.d.	Flat file

BOOKS ON SHELF

Havoc, June, Early Havoc	1959

Logan, Olive, Before the Footlights and Behind the Scenes	1870

Margetts, Ralph E., A Study of the Theatrical Career of Julia Dan Hayne	1959

Moffat, Marjorie, The One Woman Show	1935

Moss, Linda T., A Historical Sketch of Katharine Cornell as an Actress-Producer, 1931-1960, (2 copies)	1974

Schanke, Robert A., Eva Le Gallienne: First Lady of Repertory	1975

Small, Miriam R., Charlotte Ramsay Lennox	1935

Stephens, Judith L., The Central Female Characters in the Pulitzer Prize Plays, 1918-1949	1977

Search Terms

The following terms represent persons, organizations, and topics documented in this collection. Use these headings to search for additional materials on this web site, in the Five College Library Catalog, or in other library catalogs and databases.

Subjects

Actors--United States--Biography--Sources
Actresses--United States--Biography--Sources
Cornell, Katharine, 1893-1974--Biography--Sources
Dancers--United States--Biography--Sources
Feminist theater--United States--History--Sources
Flanagan, Hallie, 1890-1969--Biography--Sources
Hellman, Lillian, 1906- --Biography--Sources
Le Gallienne, Eva, 1899- --Biography--Sources
Nazimova, 1879-1945--Biography--Sources
Skinner, Cornelia Otis, 1901- --Biography--Sources
St. Denis, Ruth, 1880-1968--Biography--Sources
Theater--United States--History--Sources
Women dramatists, American--Biography--Sources
Women in motion pictures--History--Sources
Women in the performing arts--History--Sources
Women in the theater--United States--History--Sources
Women motion picture producers and directors--History--Sources

APPENDIX: Title List

Articles

Arant, Farilie. "America's 'First Man of the Stage' Thomas Cooper." John F. Kennedy Center Program Magazine, Oct.-Nov., 1971-72 season.
Cohen, Debra. Untitled article on the work of Meredith Monk
Herzel, Roger. Untitled article. Concerns English comedies of the 18th century, especially the changing role of the senex.
Hewitt, Barnard. "Mrs. John Wood and the Lost Art of Burlesque Acting." Educational Theater Journal, vol. XIII, no. 2, May 1961
Jenkins, Linda Walsh. "Women in Performing Arts: An Overview."
Macer-Story, Eugenia. "Drama for Health: Principles, Sources and Modern Use of the 'Wu-p'o' Tradition." Eugenia Story, 1975
Magnus, Dorothy B. "Matriarchs of the Regional Theater." Delivered at the August, 1975 ATA Convention.
Matlack, Cynthia Sutherland. "On the Affinity between the Historiography of Theatre History and Women Studies." Preliminary Symposium: The Historiography of Theatre History, Ohio State University, April, 1974.
Wilmeth, Don Burton. "Margo Jones Theater." From his dissertation, University of Illinois: Department of Speech and Drama, 1964

Tapes

Leontovich, Eugenie. Chinoy Interview, 1968
Terry, Megan. May 1976, Smith College
"A Salute to Women in American Theatre." Florida State University, Tallahassee participants: Ann Burr, Celeste Holm, Audrey Wood, Dorothy Olim, Vinie Burrows, Ethel Barrymore Colt, Jean Dalrymple, Patricia Zippordt, Cheryl Crawford.

Plays

Albee, Gliria. Medea. 1973
Asher, Sandra Fenichel.
- How I Nearly Changed the World, But Didn't (Not Yet Anyway).
- Afterthoughts in Eden, 1972
Ausubel, Bobbi. Focus on Me.
Boesing, Martha
- The Gelding, June 1974
- Pimp, October 1974
- Pimp, A One-Act Play for Three Women, November 1977
Brindley, Penelope. The Transformations.
Burnham, Sophy. Penelope, 1976
Caravan Theater, Cambridge, MA. How to Make a Woman.
Flanagan, Hallie and Clifford Margaret Ellen. Can you Hear Their Voices? 1931.
Gates, Joanne E. Aphra Behn: Playwright.
Gustafson, Anita. Aunt Ealdgyth is Coming Today! Stand Back!, 1975
LaTempa, Susan.
- Ladies' Room. Suedan Press, 1975
- A Play of One's Own…The Story of Virginia Woolf, 1974
- The Receptionist. Suedan Press, 1975
Morris, Liz. Minnie's Last Jig, 1976
Nass, Elyse. . Love from the Madhouse, 1972
Presson, Jay. Stars in a Person's Backyard.
Terry, Megan. Approaching Simone, 1973
Thompson, Louise. Impressions of Loving.
Wilshire, Donna. A Revolution is a Circle, 1976.

Dissertations

Abrahamson, Irving. The Career of Rachel Corothers in the American Drama. University of Chicago: Department of English, 1956
Dodge, Caroline. Rosamond Gilder and the Theater. University of Illinois: Department of Theater, 1973
Epolito, Joseph. A Study of Characters in Selected Plays of William Inge. Ohio State University: Department of Theater, 1974
Hitchcock, Ned II. Dancing Ground: An approach to the Criticism of Modern Dance. Case Western Reserve University: Department of Theater, 1973
Humble, Alberta L. Matilda Heron, American Actress. University of Illinois: Department of Theater, 1959
Klein, Elaine S. The Development of the Leading Feminine Character in Selected Librettos of American Musicals from 1900 to 1960. Columbia University: Department of Education, 1962
Loganbill, G. Bruce. Cornelia Otis Skinner and Her Art Form of Monologue Drama. Michigan State: Department of Speech and Drama, 1961
McKerrow, Margaret. A Descrptive Study of the Acting of Alla Nazimova. San Diego State University: Department of Drama, 1961
Margetts, Ralph E. A Study of the Theatrical Career of Julia Dean Hayne. University of Utah: Department of Speech and Drama, 1959
Mendoza, Barbara. Hallie Flanagan. Her Role in American Theater 1924-1935. New York University: Arts Professions 1975
Moss, Lynda. An Historical Study of Katherine Cornell as an Actress - Producer: 1961-1960. University of Southern California: Department of Theater, 1972
Schaffer, Pauline Wright. The Position of Women in Society as Reflected in Serious American Drama from 1890-1928. Stanford University: Department of Speech and Drama, 1965
Schanke, Robert A. Eva LeGallienne--Actress, Director, Manager. University of Nebraska: Department of Theater, 1975
Schlundt, Christena Lindborg. The Role of Ruth St. Denis in the History of American Dance, 1906-1922. Claremont College: Department of Speech and Drama, 1958
Small, Miriam. The Life and Literary Relations of Charlotte LennoxThe Life and Literary Relations of Charlotte Lennox. Yale University: Department of English, 1945
Swain, James W. Mrs. Alexander Drake, A Biographical Study. Tulane University: Department of Theater, 1970
McPherson, Michael L. Lillian Hellman and Her Critics. University of Denver: Department of Theater, 1976
Kaplan, Zoe Coralnick. Women in Focus in Major Plays and Productions of Rachel Corothers. City University of New York, Ph.D., 1979, Theatre
Stephens, Judith Louise. The Central Female Characters in the Pulitzer Prize Plays, 1918-1949. Kent State University: Graduate College, 1977, Ph.D.

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